Two medicines, side by side
Budesonide vs dexamethasone
Budesonide and dexamethasone are both labeled for asthma, allergies and crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of budesonide since 1994 and of dexamethasone since 1958. Pharmacies paid $0.498 per budesonide DR 3 mg capsule and $0.193 per dexamethasone 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Budesonide's other strengths are brand-only: $3.29 per mL (Eohilia 2 mg/10 mL packet).
Check it at the source: the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025).
Highlights of the budesonide record
Budesonide (Pulmicort) · label of October 11, 2019
Used for
From the label: indicationsPULMICORT RESPULES ® is an inhaled corticosteroid indicated for: • Maintenance treatment of asthma and as prophylactic therapy in children 12 months to 8 years of age ( 1 ) Limitations of Use: Not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm ( 1 ) 1.1 Maintenance Treatment of Asthma PULMICORT RESPULES is indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma and as prophylactic therapy in children 12 months to 8 years of age. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 14, 1994
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.498 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Highlights of the dexamethasone record
Dexamethasone (Decadron) · label of June 6, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and serum sickness. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1958
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.193 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Budesonide label of October 11, 2019, Dexamethasone label of June 6, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do budesonide and dexamethasone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: budesonide since 2008; dexamethasone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Budesonide | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | Budesonide is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that exhibits potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 14, 1994 | October 30, 1958 |
| First generic approved | November 18, 2008 | October 20, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 30 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.498 per capsule (Budesonide DR 3 mg capsule) | $0.193 per tablet (Dexamethasone 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 58,575 | 304,163 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to budesonide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions